Fat Burners

What are Fat Burners?

The names sound great, the powder looks good and the flavours taste amazing, but what are fat burners all about and how can they help you achieve your body composition goals? There are a lot of people who claim that fat burners “don’t work” however this blog post is here to set the record straight and give you all the information that you need to make an informed decision the next time you are looking for a new supplement to join your stack.

Fat burners or otherwise known as weight management formulas are a specialised class of supplements designed to assist someone in losing weight or dropping body fat. As the name suggests, they are designed to aid someone when they are in a calorie deficit and trying to lose body fat. Unfortunately, fat burners are often put in a bad light because users who lack proper education around exercise and nutrition believe this fat burning supplement will simply get rid of the body fat without any effort on their part. However, if someone is working out hard and adhering to a caloric deficit, fat burners can be a very effective adjunct to the fat loss process.

Fat burners started off as heavily stimulant based products that were loaded with thermogenic ingredients so that the user would feel energetic and sweat profusely during their session. However as the supplement industry has become more and more sophisticated, so have the products and fat burners are no different. They are often now a blend of ingredients that assist with optimising energy, reducing appetite, improving mood, enhancing focus and of course, aiding in the use of fat as a fuel source in the body.

What to Look for in a Fat Burner?

Acetyl L-Carnitine has been shown in clinical studies to benefit cognitive ability, memory and mood. However, its major benefit for those involved in weight training, cardio and exercise is that it allows the body to use stored fat for energy more easily which can lead to weight loss. This is almost always the primary ingredient in fat burners and a standard dose is around 500mg-2000mg.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid is a product that is often used by physique athletes for increasing lean muscle mass and reducing body fat. The physiological mechanisms behind this ingredient are largely unclear however it has been shown to be quite effective in achieving body composition goals in the research that has been conducted. If you see this ingredient on the next fat burner that you buy, remember that a standard dose of CLA is around 3200mg-6400mg.

Caffeine is the most popular stimulant used in fat burning formulas and for good reason, it is tried and tested in endless amounts of research. Caffeine not only gives you a boost of energy when you’re feeling tired (which is very common during a period of dieting) but it also helps to decrease the appetite and stimulate the central nervous system to help the body burn more calories. As mentioned, you will find caffeine in most fat burners and it will be dosed anywhere between 100mg-450mg per serve.

Green Tea Extract is a great addition to any fat burner for a myriad of reasons. This ingredient can increase the rate of fat oxidation in the body, helping you burn body fat quicker. This product can also provide the user with energy when consumed and because it is coming from a natural source, there is often no feeling of “crash” following its use.

Synephrine is also known as Bitter Orange Extract and is one of the most popular stimulant and thermogenic ingredients used in both fat burners and pre-workouts. This product will assist with providing the trade mark feeling that so many people love getting from their favourite fat burner. If you are wanting to get a hit of energy and a good sweat up to really enhance that fat burning effect, this ingredient is a must have!

How to Use Fat Burners?

Before exercise: if you are looking for a boost of energy before your training session but you don’t like the tingling feeling that most pre-workouts give you or you are performing more cardio-based exercise, a fat burner is a great option to have before training. In this case, we recommend that you consume 1 serving of your desired fat burner around 30-60 minutes prior to exercise for the best results.

Before fasted cardio: some people, whether dieting or not, love to start their day with a fasted cardio session and this is a great time to use a fat burner. This will allow you to start your day with a boost of energy and you are also able to immediately start your day with burning some calories all before having your first meal of the day. Fat burners are also calorie free which is even better!

Before you start your day: not everybody who uses a fat burner is an elite athlete or a bodybuilder, some people just really enjoy starting their day with a delicious, calorie-free beverage that helps perk up in the morning. If this is the case, we would recommend using your fat burner first thing in the morning as a substitute to your morning coffee. Alternatively, fat burners can be sipped on throughout the day as a way to reduce appetite and prevent cravings.

Do Fat Burners Help You Lose Weight?

As previously mentioned, a lot of people like to throw shade at fat burners because of their preconceived ideas about what the product does and claims to do. Fat burners will not simply shed the kilos off someone who is eating poorly, not exercising and otherwise not living a healthy life. However, fat burning supplements can assist with enhancing the effects of a dieting phase when used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise regime.

Fat burners can also assist with weight loss in indirect ways that people often do not think about. For example, fat burners often contain ingredients that suppress appetite, which reduces snacking and ultimately helps someone limit their calorie intake. The majority of fat burners at our shop has a stimulant component to them, which means they will help increase energy, something that is very valuable when weight loss in the primary goal. If you have undertaken an extended fat loss phase, you know that things can get pretty tough towards the end when you’re tired, your hormones are out of whack and your body is trying to save every bit of energy, which is when supplements can provide a huge benefit.

So will a fat burner literally melt adipose tissue off your body while you sit on the couch eating chips and watching Netflix? No. However, they can be an extremely effective tool if you are undertaking a dieting phase, due to all the reasons we mentioned above.

Our TOP 5 Fat Burning Supplements

EHP Labs Oxyshred is one of the biggest selling fat burners in the entire world and has been long hailed as the king of this supplement category. Oxyshred is quite modest when it comes to caffeine, but it is loaded with thermogenic ingredients so that the users get up a good sweat with each workout. It also comes in a huge range of 8 amazing flavours and is one of the best tasting fat burners on the market

JD Nutraceuticals Incinerate is one of the stronger fat burners on the market and when you look at the ingredient list, you will see that it certainly packs a punch. It has been specifically designed to help people burn fat and contains stimulants to promote an overall boost in energy. Incinerate comes in 3 incredible flavours and for a product of its quality, it also comes with a very reasonable price tag.

Faction Labs Deficit is one of the fastest growing fat burners in the industry when it comes to popularity. Deficit contains a good amount of caffeine and acetyl l-carnitine, both of which will help burn fat but it also contains a range of naturally occurring ingredients that promote oxidation of fat as well as other health benefits. Deficit is therefore a great option for the fitness fanatic or the weight loss warrior!

Inspired Nutraceuticals Ember is one of the newer formulas on the market but it is quickly stating its claim as one of the top fat burners in the industry. Ember combines a generous dose of stimulants with natural ingredients like dandelion extract to form a perfect combination for users. If weight loss is your primary goal, looking to a strong fat burner like Ember is a fantastic choice.

Ghost Burn is a fat burner that will be a great option for a lot of people who are trying to lose fat. It has a moderate amount of caffeine, so it will pack a punch without being too strong for most people. Ghost are one of the biggest brands in the world, so they pay very close attention to their flavouring and you can be almost certain that every flavour of Ghost Burn will taste absolutely amazing.

Other Ways to Promote Fat Loss

Eat a high protein diet:

A high-protein diet is very important for anyone trying to lose fat for a number of reasons. Protein can help keep you fuller for longer, preventing snacking and helping to control your overall calorie intake. Protein has the highest thermic effect of food (TEF) which means that consuming and processing protein in the body burns more calories overall than when we consume carbohydrates and fats.

Drink lots of water:

Adequate water consumption is very important for anyone, especially if you are trying to lose weight or drop a few kilos. Consuming 1-2 glasses of water prior to a meal may assist with helping you feel more satisfied, reducing the likelihood of overeating or snacking which can save you from going over your allotted calories for the day. People who struggle to lose weight are often consuming a large amount of calories through their beverages like fruit juice, coffees and alcohol, so if you try to replace these with a bottle of water, you will end up cutting back on a large number of calories.

Move more:

One of the simplest things to do when trying to lose weight is to make an effort to move more. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is comprised of the little movements that we do each day like walking around the house, tapping your foot on the ground and using your hands when you talk. These might seem like small things but they contribute heavily to the overall amount of calories that we burn each day so you would be doing yourself a service to move more when you are dieting!

Keep an eye on your sleep:

We all know that sleep is one of the most important variable for recovery and muscle growth however there is more and more research coming out that it is equally as important for fat loss. Studies have been conducted in which the only variable between sample groups is the amount of sleep and there has been consistent evidence to show that the individuals who sleep more, see better outcomes when it comes to fat loss. In order to ensure your fat burner is not getting in the way of your sleep, there are non-stimulant options that can be used in order to limit the total amount of caffeine consumed in a day.

Summary

As you can see, there is a lot that goes into your favourite fat burner that you might pick up at your local supplement shop. Whilst it is important to have your diet and exercise in check, a fat burner can go a long way in helping you reach your body composition goals. So the next time you are in the market for a fat burner, think about the information provided in this post and remember what the important ingredients are to look for in order to get the best effect out of your fat burner! As always, if you are in search of a new fat burner or any supplement for that matter, Power Supps is the place to find them!